Activist who attempted to vandalize US Constitution sentenced to 18 months in prison

The first of two climate activists who vandalized the encasement of the United States Constitution in February was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) announced.

The activists, Jackson Green and Donald Zepeda, both pleaded guilty to destruction of government property, after they dumped red powdered paint on the case. The actual document itself was not damaged, but the National Archives rotunda was closed for a couple days while maintenance cleaned the area.

The two activists claimed at the time that "all people" deserved "clean air, water, food and a livable climate," and that all people were endowed with "the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," not only "wealthy white men."

"Enshrined in the Rotunda at the heart of the building are the original founding charters of the United States of America – the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These documents are the physical embodiment of our nation’s core principles and symbolize what it means to be an American," U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan said in court.

"So when Donald Zepeda and Jackson Green conspired together on Valentine’s Day to defile the encasement of the Constitution, they were not just vandalizing a material object," she continued. "Rather, they intentionally and willfully assaulted our shared past and the beliefs which unite us as Americans."

Shogan told the judge on Tuesday that she was in the building at the time of the vandalism, and that the day reminded her of past anthrax and ricin attacks across the Capitol, because they did not know what the red powder was until it was tested. 

"The attack was an emotional buzzsaw for the staff of the National Archives and many across the country. It was like a member of our family had been attacked. People were not only scared, but also horrified and angry," she said.

Green, who was sentenced on Tuesday, will also be required to pay restitution to the National Archives for the cleanup, which cost $50,000. Zepeda is expected to be sentenced on Friday.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.